What they shared in common were two things above all else – the color of their skin being dark and oppression.

The nations have had great leaders but not a one among them was capable of achieving a comparable independence – that in part was the result of centuries of war, being so out gunned and out manned leading to such a reduction in numbers that by the dawn of the twentieth century we had not only been rounded up and confined to gulags but the combined population of our nations had been reduced to roughly two hundred and fifty thousand men, women, and children in a nation whose population numbered in the tens of millions.

Sixty million people alone had immigrated to the U.S. in the 18th and 19th centuries, to say we were being numerically overwhelmed is an understatement as some of our nations were driven to extinction.

Armies march on their stomachs, they are sustained by resources, cut off the supply by butchering tens of millions of buffalo and the impact is and was predictable.

Introduce biological weapons in the form of smallpox and other diseases and they have the same effect as a modern day drone – an unknown invisible adversary you can neither see nor are equipped to contend with.

Place a bounty on the scalps of men, even women and children adding additional foes to vie with.

Rape and pillage, make tobacco pouches out women’s breast as part of a psychological warfare to instill fear.

Steal our children and send them to schools to beat and sexually abuse as part of the process of “killing the ndn to save the man” as they are being “educated” and told of the undying love of some distant god who will cast you into a lake of burning fire in a New York minute if you don’t believe and surrender all you have ever known, who you are, and who you will ever be in the context of the forced disruption of your upbringing.

There’s a saying that money talks and bullshit walks but an additional saying should be with enough money bullshit not only walks but capable of running and controlling legislation.

It’s no secret money doesn’t flow in and out of the coffers of the poor or working class and I believe on some level there is a conscious design to that in that it insures a dependent work force leading to a competition for available jobs, a competition that will insure low wages and a lack of benefits.

Another example would be farmers who are up to their neck in debt struggling to keep up with corporate owned commercial farms – they are systematically being pushed out in the pursuit of greed and influence just as mom and pop neighborhood grocery or hardware stores are.

Consider this, retail prices are influenced by the cost of distribution – if the cost of distribution goes up as in fuel cost then retail prices follow suite.

Conversely if distribution related to fuel cost goes down then retail prices should as well, but that hasn’t been the case has it?

Additionally we are told a free market economy inspires competition, a competition that results in lower prices so there’s nothing to worry about and the consumer is getting a great deal.

Really? Someone want to provide an example?

How much money is enough? If you ask corporate moguls, Wall Street, and the banking industry the answer is there is never enough because it’s about more than money, it’s about the power and influence that accompany it.

A concept that surely lends itself to the adage that power corrupts.

Should the benefits of productivity and wealth trickle down to elevate the standard of living and overall well being of a nations citizens or should it “trickle up” to further enrich a select few and insure the status quo?

Any economist who isn’t squarely in the pocket of conservatives and the one percenters will tell you that wages have not kept pace with either productivity or profit – in fact if not mistaken I believe the metric is wages are something like thirty years behind.

Instead of wages keeping pace credit became the substitute turning workers into little more than indentured servants trying to keep their head above water in the midst of deciding which bill to pay as opposed to meals, clothing, whether to visit a doctor or not or to fill a prescription as corporations and the wealthy were further enriched and the chasm between the haves and have nots grew steadily more egregious.

Should jobs be exported out to cheap foreign labor markets so the profit margin can be increased – is that what the “Dream” is about or is it a global extension of corporate greed seeking to take advantage of impoverished people?

If the working class is exploited in this country how much more will workers in other countries be?

And to what end, where will the indifference stop?

Will it end with those who stand in line for the latest iPhone, tech gadget, or the fall line of foreign made shoes and fashion from Ivanka, or Trump construction projects using imported steel and materials while railing about creating jobs and making America Great?

Assuming the reader is of the working class is that what you believe it is about?

The working class is the backbone of this or any other nation, nothing takes place without them.

They are the heroes – not Gates, Soros, Buffet, the Kochs, or any other ivory tower residents.

When people wake up to that simple fact and accept the reality forgoing cults of personality and blind party allegiance then maybe a Gandhi, King, Mandela, or someone from within this country whether black, red, yellow, white, or brown will emerge and the bullshit of money controlling every aspect of government will become a thing of the past.

Bottom line is Trump ain’t that person, he is the very antithesis, and for his supporters I suggest they look inside that make America great hat or shirt they bought and so proudly wear thinking it makes them a patriot, take note of the label where it was made, and then either get real or shut the hell up about jobs, the economy, and making the country great again.

What the industrialized nations should be doing is helping other countries to elevate themselves and become capable of providing good decent jobs to their people rather than exploiting the poverty and need – they should do so without profit or influence being the motivation.

When a people, any people, have the ability to earn a decent living it can in many ways change attitudes and lead to a broader acceptance of diversity – it can in fact lead to a societal awakening where intolerance becomes more the exception than the norm.

All people everywhere deserve physical, spiritual, and economic freedom.

And so another rant sandwiched inbetween posts of photos some may agree with and some may not, but I have never predicated my beliefs or willingness to speak them based upon a premise that life is one big popularity contest, nor do I believe anyone should.

If I believe it I’m going to speak it, if shown to be wrong I’ll say so with the same level of conviction.

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10 comments on “FREEDOM LEADER”

Well said! My holiday is almost over and then I go back to the daily grind. Like a saying I once read that went something like this: I could care less about having money but the people I owe it to sure do!
We don’t live beyond on our means and still have to work hard to survive in this world.

It’s good to catch a break from the grind, an opportunity to
relax and regroup- appreciate your comment, integrity, and
the humor.
We all have some measure of indebtness whether it be financial
in nature, to our families and loved ones, our fellow man, or
to this planet that sustains us.
I like your user name, to me it implies don’t wait to do something
positive – do it.
Be well and stay strong.

Thank you. I am taking that advice and not going to wait to start a pay for site our adventure in learning photography. I will start another personal blog after. In the mean time I will be shutting down the other blog. Hope to be back soon. I have always loved reading your blog over the years. I wasn’t too vocal here (you will laugh when I tell you a certain someone you often wrote about is in my family tree) because we had different opinions on some things and didn’t want to make waves.

I like the way you write and what you post here including your wonderful pictures. I’ll let you know when I am up and running again.

(you will laugh when I tell you a certain someone you often wrote about is in my family tree)

Something of a surprise and evidence that it in many aspects it is a small world as they say.
I wouldn’t say diplomacy has been my strong suite in addressing issues I have but I’ve never
believed that to be the purpose of my blog.
There’s obviously a growing number of people interested in photography and a blog such as your’s
can have a positive effect – a place to inform and learn. The addition of garden related topics
has made it multifaceted and a positive.
Again I appreciate the compliment and wishing nothing but the best for you and your’s in future
endeavors and looking forward to your new blog.

It’s okay very distant in the tree. But it is funny, just knowing that, I was always so sure of his innocence. Your blog made me question that belief.

I am up and running. Much of it will be a bit of a repeat in the beginning. I will be linking to new garden blog in the future. My husband will be the main contributor there. I will add the preserve recipes among other things.

Congrats on you and your husbands new blog, important in my opinion that
couples have shared interests and pursuits as well as individual ones.
Inspite of the name change apparently the “dontwait” attitude remains
intact as it didn’t take long to get up and running and the name photogate
works well.
In putting together the relative and not wanting to make waves I had
a feeling who was being referenced but names aren’t important.
Will check out your new site after commenting and follow as well,
looking forward to it’s contents.

There’s a lot to be said for longevity in relationships, common
goals, shared responsibilities, and a willingness to compromise
if necessary.
Was talking to man on a job once who told me he and his wife
had been married for twenty six years – he kind of shook his
head with a smile and said it was little hard to believe.
Not that they didn’t get along just the number of years.
So since bantering isn’t uncommon on a job I asked if he would
be coming up for parole any time soon or get time off for good
behavior?
We were on side by side ladders and he nearly fell off his from
laughing.

Apparently after telling his wife she thought it was funny enough
to send me a piece of pie the next day with the comment of how and
where to apply? A good woman with a great sense of humor.
The trades are among the most honorable of professions in my
opinion – satisfying at the end of the day to be able to see
exactly what has been accomplished and will keep you fit in the
process.